We promote responsible pet ownership and provide licensing services for pets in the City of Fremont. It also houses lost and adoptable animals, services the cities of Fremont, Newark, and Union City.

IS THIS THE ROLE FOR YOU?
Are you passionate about animal welfare and public service?
This role offers a unique opportunity to serve the Fremont community by providing compassionate, high-quality care to the animals in our City’s Animal Shelter. As our Veterinarian, you’ll directly improve the quality of life for both animals and residents by supporting adoptions, promoting responsible pet ownership, and advancing community programs such as TNR and access-to-care initiatives.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced shelter environment
• Values preventive medicine and humane care
• Maintains a commitment to progressive animal sheltering
• Balances strong clinical skills with empathy and public education
• Brings a problem-solving mindset and a heart for community service

• Performs high volume, high quality spay/neuter surgeries of shelter animals and owned animals including dogs, cats, and rabbits
• Determines the need for diagnostic procedures and medical treatments
• Provides high quality shelter medicine by performing physical exams, treatments, and surgical procedures on shelter animals
• Monitors and evaluates the shelter population for behavioral conditions
• Administers injections to humanely euthanize animals in accordance with California State Law and Department guidelines and policies

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience in the following areas:
  • High volume spay/neuter
  • High volume herd health
  • Shelter medicine
  • Emergency triage
  • Community cats spay/neuter

HOW TO APPLY
This position will remain open until filled - however, interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. A resume must be submitted with the completed online application. Applications submitted without a resume may not be considered. Only online applications will be accepted.

To be considered for this outstanding employment opportunity, please complete an application online by clicking "Apply" just above this box.

Applicants will be notified electronically via Government Jobs as to their status in the selection process. Please review your settings in Government Jobs to ensure that you receive all updates regarding your status in the recruitment.

Selection Process:
The selection process may include individual and/or panel interviews, professional reference checks, fingerprint check for criminal history, and other related components. Only those candidates who have the best combination of qualifications in relation to the requirements and duties of the position will continue in the selection process. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to participate in the process.

Reasonable Accommodation
Human Resources will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please advise Human Resources of any special needs a minimum of 5 days in advance of the selection process by calling (510) 494-4660 or emailing humanresources@fremont.gov.

Contact Us
For additional information, please e-mail Human Resources Department at: humanresources@fremont.gov

The information contained herein is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

Veterinarian - Class Specification

Definition

Under general direction, provides medical care and treatment to animals at the animal shelter; examines, diagnoses, and performs treatment for impounded animals; and develops a comprehensive animal health care services program. May supervise and direct the day-to-day activities of animal services staff, volunteers and others responsible for the medical management of impounded animals. Performs related duties as required.

Class Characteristics

The position is distinguished from Veterinary Technicians who are responsible for basic care of the animals in the shelter and who provide expert advice to citizens regarding the animals they wish to adopt, but do not have the knowledge, skill and training to perform surgery, provide diagnosis and prognosis of animal diseases, or the ability to prescribe drugs. Additionally, a Veterinary Technician cannot administer controlled substances or rabies vaccinations without the indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

Incumbents in this class may need to work weekends, holidays, nights and rotating shifts, and respond to emergency animal services assignments during off-duty hours.

• Performs high volume, high quality spay/neuter surgeries of shelter animals and owned animals including dogs, cats, and rabbits; may provide consultation and education to pet owners on spay/neuter procedures and explain possible complications.
• Determines the need for diagnostic procedures and medical treatments; provides high quality shelter medicine by performing physical exams, treatments, and surgical procedures on shelter animals.
• Monitors and evaluates the shelter population for behavioral conditions, specifically identifying animals for whom euthanasia is the best outcome due to safety or quality of life concerns. Create enrichment and behavior modification plans to lower the fear, anxiety and stress caused by life in the shelter.
• Administers injections to humanely euthanize animals in accordance with California State Law and Department guidelines and policies.
• Ensures the humane care of shelter animals and safeguards herd health by following the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ guidelines for standards of care in animal shelters and evolving industry best practices.
• Provides expertise to Animal Control Officers for cruelty investigations or rescues where medical intervention is necessary; conducts necropsies when necessary for evidence collection; prepares written veterinary statements, and testifies in court as appropriate for animal welfare/cruelty cases.
• Effectively communicates the condition and status of animals with staff, public and animal groups.
• Advises staff on matters within the veterinary field.
• Trains appropriate staff in administering first aid and vaccinations to animals, the performance of euthanasia and other paramedical duties.
• Participates in vaccination clinics.
• Assists with emergency and disaster services.
• Ensures appropriate medication is administered by veterinary staff within clinical and statutory requirements, and supervises the use and security of controlled drugs.
• Implements and maintains medical record and drug use logs to established standards of veterinary and sheltering practices, ensuring that records are complete, accurate and compliant at all times.
• Maintains medical records for sheltered animals during rounds and collaborates with the shelter medical support team.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of: California state and federal animal health laws and regulations governing the care and humane euthanasia of animals; principles, practices and techniques of veterinary medicine and disease; medical treatment for a wide range of animals including domestic, livestock, wildlife and underage animals; safe work practices; Federal guidelines related to controlled substances; principles of lead supervision; written and oral communication techniques; public relations; conflict resolution techniques; common animal types and their normal characteristics and behaviors.

Skill in: the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work standards for staff; planning, scheduling, monitoring and evaluating the work of staff; prioritizing and assigning work; veterinary forensics; interacting effectively with staff, community groups and the general public; performing surgery on a variety of animal species; performing animal examinations; performing diagnostic and treatment procedures; preparing reports; making sound decisions in a manner consistent with the essential job functions; communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public and others.

Ability to: examine, evaluate and treat shelter animals (primarily dogs and cats) in a professional and efficient manner; operate assigned medical equipment; make sound decisions, including prescribing medications and euthanasia of animals that are irremediably suffering from serious illness or severe injury; develop and implement methods to control and prevent the spread of diseases in a shelter; plan, design, supervise and train staff and volunteers in the paraprofessional treatment and humane care of animals; communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Incumbents must possess the physical and mental capacities to work under the conditions described in this document and to perform the duties required by their assigned position.

Education/Experience

Any combination of education and/or experience which has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to satisfactory job performance would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge, skills and abilities would be: a Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in Veterinary Medicine and two (2) years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of animals in a clinical setting, private practice or animal shelter environment, including the performance of surgery.

Licenses/Certificates/Special Requirements

Incumbents in this classification require possession of a valid Class C California driver's license by the time of appointment and will be placed in a pull-notice program (must maintain a good driving record). Failure to possess or maintain the valid required license shall result in discipline up to and including termination of employment. Possession and maintenance of a valid license to practice Veterinary Medicine issued by the California Board of Examiners in Veterinary Medicine.

Possession of a valid Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) license for procuring drugs.

Possession of a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) accreditation may be required.

Willingness to respond to emergency animal services assignments during off-duty hours.

Physical and Environmental Demands

Rare = < 10%, Occasional = 11-33%, Frequent = 34-66%, Constant = >66%

Sitting: Frequent
Walking: Frequent
Standing: Frequent
Bending (neck): Frequent
Bending (waist): Frequent
Squatting: Occasional
Climbing: Rare
Kneeling: Occasional
Crawling: Rare
Jumping: Never
Balancing: Rare
Twisting (neck): Frequent
Twisting (waist): Frequent
Grasp - light (dominant hand): Frequent
Grasp - light (non-dominant): Frequent
Grasp - firm (dominant hand): Frequent
Grasp - firm (non-dominant): Frequent
Fine manipulation (dominant): Frequent

Fine manipulation (non-dominant): Frequent

Reach - at/below shoulder: Occasional
Reach – above shoulder level: Occasional

Push/pull:
Up to 10 lbs. Occasional
11 to 25 lbs. Occasional
26 to 50 lbs. Occasional
51 to 75 lbs. Occasional
76 to 100 lbs. Occasional
Over 100 lbs. Rare

Lifting:
Up to 10 lbs. Occasional
11 to 25 lbs. Occasional
26 to 50 lbs. Occasional
51 to 75 lbs. Occasional
76 to 100 lbs. Occasional
Over 100 lbs. Rare

Carrying:
Up to 10 lbs. Occasional
11 to 25 lbs. Occasional
26 to 50 lbs. Occasional
51 to 75 lbs. Occasional
76 to 100 lbs. Rare Over 100 lbs.

Coordination:
Eye-hand: Required
Eye-hand-foot: Required
Driving: Required

Vision:
Acuity, near: Required
Acuity, far: Required
Depth perception: Required
Accommodation: Required
Color vision: Required
Field of vision: Required

Talking:
Face-to-face contact: Required
Verbal contact w/others: Required
Public: Required

Hearing:
Normal conversation: Required
Telephone communication: Required

Work environment:
The incumbent of this classification will work in the animal shelter office and the shelter’s animal care area; exposure to animal bodily fluids in clinical situations and caring for their needs; may be exposed to aggressive animals. Assigned duties require extensive use of the medical care equipment; moving and handling domestic animals and wildlife; working in a variety of weather exposed to pollens, fumes, animal waste and other airborne irritants; frequent noise exposure; bending, squatting and crawling to care for animals in the shelter; and stepping, and climbing over physical barriers.